Why has Paul felt so strongly led to tell us (in autobiographical style) about his experiences (relatively early in his ministry) with the believers in Jerusalem, some of them Apostles? And why has he told this (in some detail) in his Letter to the Galatian Churches?

For one main reason!

And we discover that in today’s Bible Text, our focus for this Lesson.

“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” Galatians 2:4, Paul carefully informs us.

The expression “false brethren” in Greek is “pseudadelphos!” That is “pseudo” plus the noun for brothers! Not genuine, fakes! Unsaved infiltrators (“brought in”) to cloy the true Gospel, to rob it of its simple truth!

The verb “brought in” (in Greek it’s para + ago, meaning “led into” a place) suggests someone else initiated their arrival! They were “plants,” in other words! A “fifth column” sent to Galatia (apparently by somebody in Jerusalem) to destroy the Gospel Paul had been preaching!

The added fact that they “came in privily” adds to the covert nature of their mission! (A trifold blend of Greek “para” and “eis” and “erchomai” … meaning “having come … here sneaked … into a place to settle in alongside others, incognito.”)

Wow!

They apparently had come to “learn” what Paul was preaching, in order to better refute him! The verb “spy out” is the Greek “kata” plus “skopeo.” Literally, looking “down” on Paul’s Gospel! Examining what was going on in Paul’s Churches! To report back to headquarters in Jerusalem!

And what particularly did they “hate” about what Paul was teaching/preaching?

Paul frames the issue as one of Christian “liberty.” Remember our Text today … “Who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus.”

Paul says a man can be saved apart from the Law of Moses! Free from all those 613 injunctions and requirements … as far as salvation is concerned!

To Paul, a man or woman did not even have to memorize the 10 Commandments to be “born-again!” He/she simply placed his/her faith in Jesus, was “washed in the Blood of the lamb,” (automatically) turning from his sins in the process.

That’s “liberty,” says the Apostle!

Salvation by Grace!

Not by works!

Why rob a man of this great liberty in Jesus Christ? “That they (the Judaizers) might bring us into bondage,” so says Paul. They apparently did not want to lose “disciples” from Moses … to Jesus! They are Jews to the core! (Not Jesus believers, not Jesus ALONE anyway!) Was their motivation power, money, popularity, sheer numbers? Or devilish hatred for the Truth?

The word for “bondage” is a compound form of “doulos,” meaning “slavery!” In fact, the whole verb is “katadouloo,” to enslave. In the middle voice, too. That means whoever is so enslaved (again) will be changed forever, not the same any longer!

That is because they would have turned from (spurned) the Grace of God … and gone back into the Jews’ religion, meticulously the following of the Law of Moses.

Wow!

And Paul is (in the Epistle to the Galatians) strongly opposing this grave danger!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

To quote Jude’s third verse, Paul is here … “earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” And I say, “Praise the Lord!”

 

Paul’s story continues, this first hand account of his life, his early ministry.

“But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised,” when Paul went to Jerusalem, Galatians 2:3

Accompanying Paul on this visit were both Barnabas and Titus. The former being a Jew and the latter a Greek, a Gentile.

But, with the “pressure” being on … it was expected that Paul would have insisted on the circumcision of Titus, that “nasty” foreigner, at least in the eyes of many in Jerusalem, including many professing believers in Jesus!

But Paul did not believe that a surgical procedure of any kind was an aid to salvation! That such (eternal life) was a GIFT of God! By Grace, through faith!

“Compelled” means “imposed, made necessary,” essentially “forced” into something. “Anagkazo” in Greek, “to constrain, to put under pressure.”

“Circumcised” is “peritemno,” suggesting “to cut all the way around” something. In the Old Testament, it would have been described as “removing a man’s foreskin.” Again, an early example of surgery.

Such might have physical benefits, but no spiritual benefits, not any more! Not with Jesus being Crucified, Buried and Risen!

Paul would not have it, would not subject Titus to such an unnecessary procedure.

And I admire him.

I think there’s no way we truly understand how IMPORTANT this issue was to Paul! God had personally taught him that … saving Grace as bestowed “freely,” upon faith/belief in the Saviour, Jesus God’s Son.

Not by works, even “works of righteousness!” See Titus 3:5 for that last clause.

Amen!

By now, let me point out the amazing wisdom in Paul, too. Or what I’ve called “discernment” in the Lesson title this morning.

The case with another young “preacher.”

Timothy.

Who, by the way, was a Jew, a half Jew anyway (unlike Titus). And Timothy was a “Galatian” as well! Being from Lystra. Read this: “Then came he (Paul) to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and CIRCUMCISED HIM because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.” Acts 16:1-3

Here, because Timothy was Jewish (to some degree) … Paul thought it best to have him circumcised. In fact, looks like Paul did the job himself. Paul, being a trained rabbi.

Why?

Lest he offend some of the Jews to whom they would be preaching!

But NOT because it was essential to Timothy’s salvation!

It’s Paul living his old 1 Corinthians 8:13 policy: “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” In other words … if NOT circumcising this young Jewish convert to Jesus would OFFEND my Jewish brothers … I will “give in” and have it done! Lest I offend these weak believers in Christ!

And that, folks, is “discernment!”

I will NOT circumcise the Greek Titus.

I WILL circumcise the Jew Timothy.

But in neither case for soteriological reasons! For anything concerning salvation!

But for cultural reasons!

Again: “Wherefore, if meat (or circumcision or anything else) make my brother to offend (stumble), I will eat no flesh (or do any other minor, marginal thing) while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” 1 Corinthians 8:13

Wow!

Discernment, for sure.

Readers, everything in the Christian life is not “cut-and-dried.”

There is room for some latitude in one’s behaviour.

On non-essential, sometimes cultural, issues.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

May God give us wisdom in such situations.

 

Paul the Apostle was an athlete, at least spiritually so!

From the first of his Christian life to the very last … he talked about the “course” (a race course) that he intended to pursue! For Jesus’ Sake.

And today’s Galatians Text simply further illustrates that fact.

“Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” Galatians 2:2d, the “d” meaning the fourth clause in the verse, it’s last movement in this case.

Paul was adamant about salvation being a “gift,” not a “wage earned.” In that he would not budge, not an inch!

Yet still, if he could not get the men of “reputation” in Jerusalem, apparently a group of still surviving Disciples (with the addition of James, Jesus’ half Brother) to agree that “Paul’s Gospel” was identical to “Jesus’ Gospel,” that Gentiles did NOT have to convert to Judaism, did NOT have to be circumcised, etc. in order to be saved, be born-again … Paul felt his ministry would be greatly hindered, curtailed, even rendered “useless.”

And in our clause today, Galatians 2:2d, Paul expresses this necessity with the simple metaphor of a “race,” no doubt a “foot race.” Again … “Lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.”

(“Vain” means, as I said, “useless.” It is “kenos” in Greek, actually translated “empty” 4 times in the King James New Testament.)

Paul … running a race!

Paul … pursuing, executing, fulfilling his Ministry!

Now to establish a pattern of Paul using that word-picture.

Way back in Acts we find him opining: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Then, years later, possibly within hours of his death, Paul writes: “I have fought a good fight, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7, his never dropping out of the race, having completed it!

So again, Paul the “runner!”

And when he wrote Hebrews (at least I think he did) the Apostle further declared, exhorted: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2, again!

One more. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul’s “what keeps me going” Text (I call it) the Apostle incites: “Know ye not that they which RUN IN A RACE run all, but one receiveth the prize? SO RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I THEREFORE SO RUN ….”

Wow!

Little wonder then, that Paul’s trip to Jerusalem was so illustrated: “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles … privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I SHOULD RUN, or HAD RUN, in vain.”

Paul, no doubt now in the spiritual “Hall of Fame!” (Or at least he will be, come the Judgment Seat of Christ!)

With a gold metal in running, too!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

No wonder Paul loved to think of the Word of God that way, too. As “not being bound” (2 Timothy 2:9, free to “run!”) And that he prayed, every single time he preached, that the Word of God would “have free course” (meaning “run without impediment”), according to 2 Thessalonians 3:1.

Wow again!

 

Yes, there has been a chapter break, specifically between Galatians 1 and Galatians 2. But Paul’s (inspired) “autobiography” continues.

“Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” Galatians 2:1-2

Paul’s early life story, as reported by Scripture, is punctuated with “time spans,” some long and some short. “Three days” he was blind, just after his conversion. “Three years” he was in Arabia. “Fourteen days” he was in Jerusalem, consulting with Peter and James. And now … “fourteen years” are specified here in Galatians 2:1.

(Geography note: In Scripture traveling to Jerusalem is always a “going up” to the City! And leaving? Always “going down!” This is true topographically and spiritually! The House of God being in that Capital City! See verse 1 again: “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem …”)

But “fourteen years” after what, after when?

Either after Paul was saved.

Or after Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem, that “fifteen day” span of time mentioned in Galatians 1:18. (Which we studied several days ago here on the Website.)

Any companions, on this trip?

Yes, with “Barnabas,” a Jew who had given much to the cause of Christ. And a dear friend of Paul’s, one who had vouched for his authenticity as a Believer in Christ. “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.” Acts 9:26-28

Later, Paul and Barnabas had a misunderstanding over John Mark, and split ways.

But there is another fellow traveler, an unlikely one indeed!

“Titus,” a saved young man who was a Greek, a Gentile! (To many of the Jews … a gentile “dog!”)

What a “mix,” a questionable (to these “precise” men at Jerusalem, some still clinging to the Law of Moses) maverick Preacher (Paul), a pure-blooded, very-generous-to-that-Church Jew (Barnabas) and then a dirty little Gentile, a Greek (Titus)!!!

Titus, who is claimed to have been “saved?”

A motley crew indeed!

Now we know the “where” of this trip.

And the “who” of this trip.

But …”Why?”

Because God TOLD Paul to go!

“And I went up by revelation …” Paul’s very words!

It’s our noun “apocalypse,” God somehow personally “displayed” to Paul the necessity of this journey to Jerusalem! (Literally, an “unveiling!”)

Once there, not by the insistence of the Apostles (the “big-wigs” to Paul right now, “big-shots”) and not because of some pragmatic need either (at least not mentioned here) … Paul “communicated” to certain leaders of the Jerusalem Church “his Gospel,” what he had been preaching those dozen plus years!

“Ana-tithemi” means “to place” something “in the midst” of a group of people, here translated “communicated.” Paul “laid it on them,” the Gospel God had given him to proclaim!

By the way, A Gospel of GRACE, not works!

Paul did this, not because he feared that crowd!

But to establish the authenticity, the reality, the power, of this truth: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

And  Romans 1:16 …”For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Get it?

Titus, a Greek!

Wow!

And do note this. Paul did not have this discussion with the whole Church at large. “I communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation.”

Again, the “heavy-hitters” among the apostles! The “big-guns!” Literally, “reputation” means “highly esteemed” by the brethren. “Well though of!”

Paul’s humility astounds me!

Paul would have died for the truth of the Gospel being a GIFT OF GOD … not a REWARD or a WAGE or anything DESERVED!

Tomorrow, Lord willing, more about this important trip!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Meanwhile, thank God today for the gift of salvation in your life! I want to do that as well! “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15, penned by Paul,of course!

 

 

For years the Apostle Paul was virtually an “insignificant” new Believer in Jesus, at least to the Churches and Christians of Judea. Even though Saul (Paul’s pre-conversion name) was educated in Jerusalem, as a Pharisee! (His own words, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city, Jerusalem, at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” Acts 22:3, Gamaliel being a prominent teacher of the Torah, the Law of Moses.)

But to our text today, our Lesson:

From Paul’s continuing autobiography … “And I was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: but they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.” Galatians 1:22-23

Paul’s point in the paragraph we are ending today (Galatians 1:11-24) is that he did NOT receive his Gospel from anyone at Jerusalem. That his Message was NOT man inducted or derived! BUT THAT … HE LEARNED THE THINGS OF GOD IN A PRIVATE (SORT OF) WAY! IN THE BLEAK DESERT OF ARABIA, TAUGHT BY THE “REVELATION” OF GOD, BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!

The legalistic (majoring on the Law of Moses) believers in Jerusalem did not even know how Paul looked! (This would be a dramatically different crowd that the Pharisees and Scribes and Chief Priests with whom Paul had fellowshipped prior to his salvation!) He was “unknown by face” to them, to the real saints in Judea. By the way, the Greek for “unknown” is “agnoeo,” and has come to be our English word “agnostic!” Literally, “without knowledge.”

The Believers in and around Jerusalem had only “heard” of Paul!

Plus, they were afraid of him, based  on his reputation as a Christian killer! “And when Saul was come (after about 3 years in Damascus and Arabia) to Jerusalem, he assayed (attempted) to join (kollao, meaning ‘to be glued, to cleave’) himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid (had a “phobia”) of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” Acts 22:26, they probably thought he was an “undercover” officer for the Jews who were not saved, the Pharisees!

But, “Glory to God,” look what they heard about Paul … “That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.”

What a testimony!

Part sad.

Part thrilling.

Paul sought to “destroy” the faith of young Christians, this verb (“portheo”) means “to waste. Or “to overthrow!” As in “ransacking” something.

And “to persecute” (in Greek spelled “dioko”) someone means: “to chase them down,” here clearly trying “to do them harm.” Alternatively, “to put them to flight!”

But, as I said above, Saul the persecutor has now become Paul the preacher! (Or will be called “Paul” soon, beginning on his first missionary journey!)

Oh yes, there’s one more verse in the chapter!

Galatians 1:24 … “And they glorified God in me.” So said Paul, humble as he was.

As in “another soul has been saved!”

Wow, what a thought I am having.

It would truly be great if all us Christians lived lives concerning which it could be genuinely claimed: “To God be the glory … for his/her salvation!!!”

I never want to bring shame on His Name!

I want to be the kind of person in whom God can receive Glory!

I have said it already … what a testimony!

“He which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.”

Paul, an independent Preacher of the Word.

Not a factory made, cookie-cutter, conforming-to-Jerusalem kind of Servant!

Truly, a Jesus man, a CHRIST-ian!

Obligated to no one … except His Saviour!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell